Citrus County Schools

Lecanto’s International Baccalaureate Exhibition of Knowledge and Service Night

By: Amadeus Solis

At the Lecanto High International Baccalaureate meeting last Tuesday, March 3, the IB Juniors and Seniors showcased their Theory of Knowledge (TOK) exhibitions and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) project binders to other students, parents, and teachers.

TOK and CAS are requirements for graduation with the IB diploma. IB Juniors answer a TOK question relating to the discovery, value, application, and transmission of knowledge to answer the question “How do we know?” using three pieces of evidence called “objects” to write an essay no longer than 950 words. IB Diploma Programme Seniors, on the other hand, showcase their CAS project that they planned and executed, as well as 7 CAS experiences, each with a different learning target, to further demonstrate themselves as stewards of service, leadership, and learning. IB Career Program Seniors also complete a service-learning project, with guidelines similar to their Diploma Program counterparts.

The objects the juniors used to support their answer to their respective questions ranged from documents, buildings, food, and even snakes. These objects were displayed at each of the exhibitions of each student as if they belonged in a museum. And yes, the snakes were kept in a container so that they would not bite any of the visitors. Some exhibitions became a booth for free samples, such as the Arroz con Dulce, courtesy of student Adrianna Miller, or the mango-tamarind candy distributed by Gianna Bulaon, whose unconventional display involving a cutout of the Philippine jeepney awarded her the best TOK exhibition of the night.

In the big cafeteria, the tables were lined with binders showcasing the acts of service done by seniors to showcase their abilities as IB learners and leaders. Many visitors were intrigued by the different CAS experiences, acts of service, and participation that the seniors had picked to showcase their learning in areas where they identified strengths and areas of growth, developed new skills by undertaking challenges, showed planning, demonstrated perseverance, worked collaboratively, engaged with issues of global significance, and considered the ethics of their actions.

There was a grand variety of CAS projects the seniors had done in the past 18 months, ranging from writing and developing a video game to hosting a mini-golf tournament. Each visitor who spoke with a senior was impressed by what the seniors had picked for a CAS or service-learning project and commended them on their willingness to pursue their own passions while completing this requirement for the IB diploma.

Among the visitors were IB underclassmen (both current and upcoming), who were able to catch a glimpse of the work and opportunities that lie ahead in junior and senior year, especially with the CAS projects that can be passed down from student to student.

The IB exhibition was more than a demonstration of academics and service; it was also an opportunity to showcase creativity when tackling such complex themes, while also having fun in serving the local community through their projects.